Door-key.



1. B. SOLOMON.

DOOR KEY. APPLICATION nun JULY 16,1908.

Patnted Mar. 2, 1909.

Ol f-v.

' the lock in transverse section.

ISODORE E. SOLOMON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

DOOR-KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed July 16, 1908. Serial No. 443,907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Isononn E. SOLOMON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Keys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement made in the construction of a door key of that kind or description which is formed or rovided with a rotatable pilot on the end of its shank.

A key of this description has for its object to permit the pilot end of the stem or shank to turn independently of the key, so that while possessing all the required functions of a pilot or guiding end for the key, it will turn loosely without acting on the key when improperly, seized or manipulated from the outside, for the purpose of opening the door.

The object of the present invention is to improve keys of this description in the construction of the joint or connection between the ilot or rotatable member and the stem or xed member that carries the bit; and more es ecially to provide an improved pilotend anc means for fastening it to or on the stem, whereby it will be ractically impossible to seize the pilot-end from the outside of the lock by a pick-lock or other like tool with sufiicient force to compress the joint or otherwise grip it in such manner that the stem or part to which it is united can be turned and the key operated in the lock.

The nature of this improvement, and the manner in which I produce and carry out the invention is explained at length in the fol lowing description in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 of the drawing represents the imroved key of my invention in the lock the key being shown in side view, and the case of Fig. 2 is a view in detail of the bit-carrying end of the key, showing the rotatable pilot-end of the stem in longitudinal section.

The novel feature in the door key herein shown consists in locating the line of joint 1) between the stem a and the rotatable pilotend (1 upon that portion of the stem which lies between the front and rear edges of the bit e, and to so form or construct and arrange the parts that they do not extend on the pilot beyond the edge of the bit 6, but are confined entirely to the stem which lies within the limits of the bit, or between its front edge 2 and its rear edge 3. By virtue of this construction the pilot presents a solid end beyond the edge 3 of the bit, and when the key is in lace in the lock, the bit acts as a stop to tie further entrance of nippers or other burglars implements, rendering it impossible to reach the stem or to grip the pilot sufficiently close to the joint to ress the socket end of the pilot u on the pin or stud g on which it is fitte to turn. In securing this feature and carrying out my invention the stem (1, is made of less length than the bit 6, and to the end to which the pilot d is united the bit is joined by a neck or short portion 4, leaving the remaining portion out of the rear edge 3 unattached. The joint connecting the ilot to the end of the stem is formed with t e view to afford free rotation of the ilot and at the same time secure such a stiff or strong joint that the pilot will not easily become bent out of line. The stud g is fixed in the end of the stem referably by being driven in and brazec or soldered. The socket for this stud is formed in the pilot from the tip or outer end, and the cavity is closed by a solid plug d which is inserted and fixed after the pilot d is set on the stud.

In connection with the door-key of my invention, it will be found of advantage to provide the lock with a stop 1) in the ward or key way, for the purpose of preventing the key from being left standing in line with the key-hole when the key is turned to lock the door. For this purpose the stoppin p is fixed in the plate 6 of the lock on one side of the key-hole 7 in such position that it will lie in the path of the bit, permitting the key to be turned forward to set the bolt, or backward to throw it, but also reventing the bit from being brought into inc with the key-hole whenever it is turned to set the bolt. The forward movement of the key at such time will be sufficient to lock the door; but further movement of the bit will be prevented by the stop. This attachment to the lock thus obviates any liability of the key being accidentally left in osition where it could be pushed out of tie look from the outside, and leave the key-hole open for inserting a skeleton-key.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a door key with a loose rotatable pilot end; and that it is not novel with me to form or construct a key with a movable sleeve on the end of the stem projecting beyond the bit of the key.

I claim the end of the stem inclosed within the pilot, and on which the pilot is fitted to turn; the said stud being of less length than the bit so as to be situated back of the rear edge 5 A door key having a stern, a bit connected of the bit.

ISODORE E. SOLOMON.

Witnesses:

H. E. RQBBINs, H. O. GRIsWoLD. 

